News from Network Rail

September 2020

Dear Passenger,

We are delighted to bring you our latest update on some projects taking place in the Southern region with a focus on our Sussex route, which I hope you find of interest.

Public consultation – last chance to have your say

Unblocking the Croydon bottleneck

This is your final opportunity to have your say on our proposals to unblock the Croydon bottleneck.

We are seeking your feedback on our proposals to remove the complex series of junctions in Croydon that regularly contribute to delays across the network. Removing the bottleneck would allow more reliable, more frequent and faster services on the Brighton Main Line and its branches.

Our designs for the railway upgrade are available for you to view and provide feedback via a short survey here.

The public consultation will close at 11:59pm on Sunday 20 September. You will be able to view and comment on the proposals online and via email. You can also speak to a member of the project team on Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm until 18 September on our consultation hotline by calling 020 7118 0684.

Work continues apace

Gatwick Airport Station upgrade

Work has continued apace at Gatwick Airport station over the summer and the project team have completed critical works to enable them to start building the new station concourse above platforms 5, 6 and 7 as a brand new entrance into the airport.The upgrade is due to complete in 2023 and it will deliver a station that befits Gatwick’s status as a gateway to the UK. Commuters, leisure travellers and air passengers will see their journeys transformed, as they benefit from improved accessibility and more space than ever before in a modern, expanded station. Take a look at the map below for more detail and read more about what’s been happening at the worksite:

Piling started on site to prepare the foundations for construction work to come

A ‘reinforced steel bar’ has been to support the installation of a tower crane on site

‘Piling’ and pile cap construction have continued on site over the last few weeks. Watch this short film with Paul Harwood, Network Rail Southern Investment Director, explaining why this is an important step in the project.
The construction team built a ‘reinforced steel bar’ to prepare the foundations for the installation of a tower crane in the small work site behind platform 7 in late September – this will be another important milestone for the project!
During night times the team started to demolish the canopy over platforms 3 and 4 in preparation for the construction of a new lift and stairway to the existing station concourse. This will be one of five new lifts and four new stairways to be installed around the station to support passengers with reduced mobility, the elderly and those travelling with a pushchair or luggage.
A ‘superhighway’ has been created along the track bed of platform 6: the hoarded access route to platforms 5 and 6 will help the team to start Stage 2 of the project on 1 November and it will remain in place until March 2022.